Kai Risdall

And so diesel is a big part of our irrigation fuel.

This has just added 30 percent, 35 percent of our fuel cost.

And that's concerning.

That's because the big competition for cotton is polyester.

which comes from oil.

So the increase in oil prices has inadvertently really helped us.

And I'm like, yes, people, quit wearing that dadgum oil on your body, you know, wear cotton.

He says his worry is that high diesel prices will keep people from taking their pleasure boats out.

The flip side of how businesses are doing right now is, of course, how consumers are doing.

And we'll get a sense of that in the morning when the Census Bureau releases retail sales for March.

Consumers, as we know, have been disgruntled for a good long while now.

But that hasn't really had much of an effect on how we're spending.

Marketplace Smithfields has more on what we might learn in the morning.

But she says refunds, which are bigger than usual this year because of last year's budget bill, are the main reason for the expected bump in spending.

Especially if the war continues and prices keep rising.

inflation fears and the war are already affecting how consumers feel about the economy.

The latest consumer sentiment numbers are the worst they've ever been.

What could is if oil and gas prices stay high and push the cost of all sorts of other things up, too.

Sam just gave us the macro on expectations for the retail and consumer economy a minute ago.

But it is always good to pair that big picture analysis with the micro, the people who are actually doing the buying and for us right now, the selling in this economy.